2024 Crater Costa Rica Service Adventure
| Travel Dates: | June 18, 2024 - June 27, 2024 |
| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$1,990 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Confirmed Airfare: | $1,250 |
Tuition Calculator
There are two options for payment, including an interest-free monthly installment plan. Follow whichever option works best for your family. If we are within 90 days of travel, only the pay in full option is possible.
Program Tuition: $1,990
Pay in Full
$1,990.00
due today
Payment Plan
Pay a $500 deposit at the time of enrollment and establish an interest-free monthly payment plan. If you enroll today, your estimated* monthly payments would be:
$67.73
per month
All prices in United States Dollars.
Costa Rica Service Adventure
From white sand beaches to misty cloud forests, towering volcanoes to beautiful rivers that carve through tropical canyons, and hospitable, friendly communities, Costa Rica has it all! Our service adventures give travelers the opportunity to delve deep into small, rural communities set in stunningly beautiful corners of the country. In addition to white water rafting, relaxing on white sand beaches and swimming at the base of a towering waterfall, students will gain confidence in their Spanish, contribute to a meaningful service project and grow into more confident travelers. Adventure awaits!
Program Highlights
Check out some of the featured experiences of your program!
Have the adventure of a lifetime with your friends
Immerse yourself in a different culture by staying with a host family
Zip-line above the forest canopy
Trek to a beautiful waterfall deep in the jungle
Visit one of Costa Rica's most beautiful volcanoes
Raft down one of Costa Rica's best rivers
The Itinerary
We do everything possible to abide by itineraries as originally planned, but decades of experience teaches that we must be flexible in our planning. Changes to a trip’s schedule are uncommon, but Walking Tree reserves the right to make adjustments to programming in the best interest of the group.
| June 18 | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 18 | USA - Alajuela | Today the group will travel from the USA to San Jose, Costa Rica! | Airplane |
| June 19 | Alajuela | Upon arrival, we’ll settle into a lovely hotel on the outskirts of the city for dinner and an orientation meeting to discuss the upcoming trip in detail. | Rosa de las Américas |
| June 20 | Alajuela- Sarapiquí | After breakfast, the group will head for Sarapiquí, an area characterized by its lush tropical rainforest and swift rivers. The bus ride is two hours north of the capital city. The best way to enjoy it is to learn to cook traditional and tasty dishes with a local family, using a variety of products such as banana, plantain, cassava, and many other exotic fruits all grow on our farm. After lunch will enjoy an Ethnobotany tour, where students will engage all five of their senses in getting to know different plants and learn about the scientific importance of the tropical rainforest in the medical and cosmetic fields. After dinner, we will have some reflection time to discuss some of our goals for the upcoming days. | Tirimbina |
| June 21 | Host Community | We will begin our day learning about the history of one of mankind’s favorite foods: chocolate. Originally from Central America, this plant has an extraordinary history; it was one of the most important products for the Mayan and Aztec cultures. In the afternoon, we will learn how to dance salsa, bachata, and merengue. Then we'll head to our host community. After arrival, we'll tour the town, learn more about our service project/s, and then head home with our new families for the evening. Unless otherwise specified, students will be placed two to a home. Breakfasts and dinners will be with families, while lunch will be served at the service site. In the afternoons and evenings, activities are flexible and will vary, but may include time with host families, excursions to explore the surrounding area, or group reflection sessions. | Host Families -Sarapiquí |
| June 22 | Host Community | Today we will start working on our service project and spending time with host families. Evening activities will vary. | Host Families -Sarapiquí |
| June 23 | Host Community | Today, we will continue working on our service project and spending time with host families. | Host Families -Sarapiquí |
| June 24 | Host Community | Today we will finish working on our service project, and we will also have our farewell party with our families. This is a great opportunity to practice the dancing steps that we learned during the week. | Host Families -Sarapiquí |
| June 25 | Host Community - Fortuna | After breakfast, we will say goodbye to our families and experience whitewater rafting on the Sarapiqui River. Then we will head to La Fortuna, a small city right next to the Volcán Arenal, an impressive volcano that stands out in the middle of the flatlands. Students will have some free time to explore the town center and do some souvenir shopping. At night, you can relax in the hotel’s natural hot springs. | Hotel Los Lagos |
| June 26 | Fortuna - Alajuela | After breakfast, we will say goodbye to our families and we will experience the forest from a different perspective as we go ziplining. After lunch, we will make the drive back to San Jose for a farewell dinner and our final reflection before our international departure just before midnight. | Airplane |
| June 27 | Alajuela - USA | Fly home, hasta luego! | Your own bed |
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing group accommodations. Walking Tree partners with hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, locally operated, clean and safe. We inspect each partner hotel to ensure they meet these standards.
Homestay
This will be the best part of your trip! Staying with a host family immerses you in the language and culture of the destination, and can lead to deep and lasting relationships with your hosts. Initially intimidating but ultimately unforgettable, there’s no better way to begin to truly understand the place you’re visiting.
Villas Aracari
Villas Aracari is a beautiful property ideally located just twenty minutes from the airport. Close to the city center yet perched high in the mountains, the views of the Central Valley are breathtaking and the new pool is a delightful respite after a hot day. Spotless rooms and friendly staff will make you feel at home the moment you drop your bags.
Los Lagos
Hotel Los Lagos is roomy, beautifully decorated, and offers views of Arenal volcano in a relaxing setting. Free Wi-Fi throughout the facilities keep everyone feeling connected. Students will stay in double or triple occupancy rooms according to gender.
Rosa de las Américas
A charming ranch-style hotel on the outskirts of San José, Rosa de las Americas is a great spot to unwind after a long day’s travels. This hotel is complete with a lush gardens, a big pool, updated rooms, and friendly staff.
La Tirimbina
Tirimbina is an eco-lodge and research station located in the Sarapiquí region of Costa Rica. Nestled in the heart of the rainforest, the lodge is surrounded by lush vegetation, diverse wildlife, and the beautiful Tirimbina River.
The rooms feature a simple and comfortable décor and include air conditioning, a fan, a safety box, and views of the gardens. Each room also has a private bathroom with a shower.
Safety and Support
EASY FUNDING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
I was comfortable that the trip my daughter was on was safe, educational, interesting and fun. She made life long friends with her host sister. An exceptional life learning experience.
Carolyn
Parent of a Peru traveler
Your Adventure Includes
Estimated Airfare
In order to give our travelers the best possible price, we break out airfare from the Program Tuition. We will still handle all booking and ticketing via our flight partner who has access to special fares not available to the general public. Once confirmed, you will be invoiced for the flight roughly 75 days prior to travel.
Program Tuition Excludes: Travel insurance, baggage fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on itinerary.
Resource Center
Why should high school students travel abroad? What happens if a participant gets sick? How quickly do we need to enroll? We’re sure you have plenty of questions and we’ve got you covered! Visit our Resource Center to discover the answers to your most pressing questions and contact us anytime with additional questions.